One Of Canada's Most Scenic Trains Offers A Budget-Friendly Journey Through The Rockies

A train trip is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes of a country. The archetype of slow travel, traveling by train makes the journey itself the star of the show, allowing you to watch amazing mountains, stunning forests, and gorgeous lakes and rivers pass by the windows. There are few better ways to explore somewhere new than by train, and few better places in the world to explore by train than Canada.

Canada has some of the most beautiful train rides in North America, with the perfect combination of eye-catching scenery, comfortable trains, and efficient and well-developed infrastructure and networks to make a vacation on the rails a genuine joy. However, it has to be said that some of the services, while undeniably epic, are somewhat pricey. The Rocky Mountaineer, for example, is a world-famous luxury train ride through the Rocky Mountains from Vancouver to Banff, on a specially-designed train with 360 views. But tickets don't come cheap, with even shorter itineraries starting at around $2,000. Luckily, there's an alternative route that offers a similarly spectacular ride through the British Columbia backcountry at a fraction of the price: the Jasper–Prince Rupert line, also known as the Skeena, where a basic ticket will only run you about $150.

Canada's Skeena train is part of VIA Rail, who run the majority of the Canadian rail network. It runs from Prince Rupert to Jasper, and includes an overnight stop in Prince George. Passengers can join the train at either end of the line, as well as at Prince George. For tourists flying in to take the train, the nearest airports are Prince Rupert Airport (YPR) and Prince George International Airport (YXS), both of which serve domestic routes across Canada.

The Skeena is a charming throwback to a golden age of rail travel, when the world moved a little slower and things like timetables were seen as guidelines rather than rules. Winding its way through 730 miles of British Columbia backwoods, it brings travelers right up close to some of the most dramatically beautiful scenery that Canada has to offer. Heading out from Jasper, you'll instantly be surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Jasper National Park, including the largest glaciers and icefields in the Canadian Rockies, as well as rugged mountains and deep pine forests. The towering bulk of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, looms into view, before the train rolls on to the thundering whitewater of the Fraser River, all the way to Prince George, where the train overnights.

The next day, the train makes its way through the Valley of a Thousand Peaks, also known as the Rocky Mountain Trench, which separates the Rockies in the east from the Columbia Mountains and the Cassiar mountains in the west. This is one of the best sections of the journey for wildlife watching, and keen-eyed travelers will likely spot bald eagles circling overhead, moose and elk grazing in meadows near the rails, and even perhaps a black bear or two wandering in and out of the tree line. The route follows the Skeena River for a while, before heading into the 24,700 square mile wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest coastal temperate rainforest on Earth.

The Skeena runs three times a week, departing from both Jasper and Prince Rupert on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The journey takes two days, with an overnight stay in Prince George. Travelers will need to make their own accommodation arrangements in Prince George, as the Skeena is not a sleeper train and hotel rooms are not included in the fare. It is also worth noting that due to a number of factors, including the charming habit of Skeena drivers picking up passengers from random halts and stops along the route, the train won't always stick to its exact schedule.

Passengers can check timetables and ticket prices online at www.viarail.ca, as well as make bookings online. One important thing to note is that there is no dining car on the Skeena. There are snacks and light meals available for purchase, but it is recommended that you bring your own food, snacks, and beverages.